Used to be we could refer to “TV Guide” for a reliable schedule of what would or would not appear on the tube at any given time. If you looked up Channel 6 and the evening news, for example, you didn’t expect to see WWE Bruno Sammartino v. Haystacks Calhoun! Like it or not you got the news.
Well, in this space last week, I wrote a rather lengthy piece titled “King Phillips Trail” only to discover that the photograph I chose to accompany the article was not King Phillips Trail but a view from Pratts Island, Southport. Now I will attempt to dig myself from that hole and set the record right. This week I will write about Pratts Island and include a photo of King Phillips Trail as it was meant for last week. I hope anyone who reads this can follow along.
In any case, it’s not a WWE presentation!
Pratts Island, as most will know, is a small spit of land just across the Elderkin bridge. I call it the Elderkin bridge because our dear friend and gifted artist, June Elderkin, keeps a very close eye on who, what and when passes by in front of her house which overlooks the bridge. It’s not, of course, a passage managed by June, but all motorized vehicular traffic must pass by way of the bridge, and June might notice. There is no charge for use of the bridge, yet.
This time of year there aren’t many year ’rounders on Pratts – four or five families I’d guess.
In summer season that number swells significantly and should as it is a delightful neighborhood with many terrific views of the Sheepscot River and ocean. We visit from time to time with Audrey Riley and the view from her home is pretty special. In fact, the other day we got a call from Audrey to tell us that the newly arrived eagle was resting on a rock off to the south of her place. We popped over and sure enough. There it was! But, it was so far off shore that even with the longest lens I own it looked like a cormorant drying its wings. Someone in a kayak approached the bird from the river which eventually caused the bird to flee upriver, out of sight.
Many years ago we would take our children to Pratts Island to build and observe fairy houses that populated the moss-covered terrain near the beach. It was a magical place which we and many other area folk visited. It is now private and no longer accessible to the public. The ledges and rock outcroppings on the river side were equally as fascinating and special for many. In fact, the photograph I use for my “logo” is a view from there looking toward the Cat Ledges and off toward Seguin Island Light. I made that photo in 1978.
So the photograph that accompanies today’s adventure was, in fact, made from the location I so tediously described last week. I hope this will square up my confusion. Next week I will start anew with a photograph that properly accompanies my words. But don’t be surprised if I pull another mixup down the road. Just trying to keep everyone on their toes – my toes included!
P.S., My naming of Ocean Island and Indian Island was also incorrect. On the map, it is Reed and no longer an island. Local reliable historian I am not!